Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: New Level – Mihalic a Catalyst for Surging Hoosiers
10/14/2024 11:57:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Tommy Mihalic remains a team-first guy, a do-it-all leader for a surging Indiana men's soccer team driving for more late-season glory.
Yes, the senior forward's scoring surge has boosted him to career-high totals in goals (eight) and points (17), but he has bigger, team-focused goals.
"It feels good," he says about his recent goal-scoring binge, "but the team comes first. When I can score, I know it gives us a huge chance to win. I'll try to keep doing it."
Mihalic is a catalyst, but not the only one, in a 5-3-5 Hoosier squad finding balance amid victory. Four Hoosiers have scored two goals in four straight games – Mihalic, forward Collins Oduro, defender Quinton Elliot and midfielder Charlie Heuer. That hasn't happened since at least 2010.
Through it all, Mihalic defends the backline, clears balls to blunt opposing teams' attacks and then attacks himself, as his 22 career goals attest. He leads by word and deed, in games and in training, a consistent force to continue the IU tradition of player excellence.
Mihalic has done this in spurts throughout his Hoosier career but has attained the consistency to cause coach Todd Yeagley to say, "He's leading. You see him on the field dictating where guys need to be. That's a new Tommy."
It goes well beyond scoring, Yeagley adds.
"When you're playing with that much confidence," Yeagley says, "you're in good form, whether it's as a defender or an attacker. He's in the best form he's ever been in."
Mihalic is doing it because he can, because it's expected, because it's necessary as the Hoosiers (3-1-2 in the Big Ten) retain conference title hopes and more. In every sport, championship results demand the best players play well.
"He feels he has to perform," Yeagley says. "He feels that responsibility. We're very pleased with his performance, leadership and overall demeanor. He's taken it to another level in terms of preparedness, mental and physical. He's done a good job."
Consider Mihalic sets the tone for a team that has scored 12 goals in its last five games, huge for a team that had just seven in its first eight contests. His goal helped salvaged a 2-2 tie with No. 4 Ohio State. He scored in a 3-2 win over No. 8 Wisconsin, then had two goals in last week's 3-2 comeback against Kentucky.
Mihalic doesn't score in a vacuum. Against Kentucky, his first goal started from a midfielder Jack Wagoner pass and then one from Oduro. His second goal came when senior forward Sam Sarver blew past a Wildcat defender off a pass from defender Jansen Miller and sent a cross into the box, trusting Mihalic would be there. Mihalic, anticipating Sarver's play, was there.
Credit years of playing together to build chemistry crucial to success.
"He's rapid," Mihalic says of Sarver. "No one catches him when he gets into space. Once Jansen) played him that ball, I knew I just had to get to my spot and the ball would fall to me. He's phenomenal."
The same is true of other Hoosiers.
Consider Heuer, a true freshman who hadn't played since Sept. 4. He got his chance in Friday night's second half against Penn State and scored twice within eight minutes – the first two goals of his college career – to secure a victory.
It was the second straight game a freshman had scored a game-winning goal, following midfielder Michael Nesci's effort against Kentucky.
Yeagley has never hesitated playing freshmen when they show they are ready, when consistent training earns them game opportunity, and then they deliver – like Nesci, who's played in 12 games; like Heuer, who's played in three games.
Still, veterans lead the way. Yeagley praises Sarver's dominating play and leadership. He calls forward Alex Barger a winner, saying, "I've coached a lot of good kids, and he's in the top tier when it comes to how he handles any situation." He says Elliot is "playing at an All-American level" and praises Jansen's defensive tenacity.
"We've given game balls to some guys who have scored goals," Yeagley says, "but (Jansen has) played well every game. He's been producing and covering for guys. It's his arial play, his voice, his good decisions offensively.
"I don't think any attacker has played better than him. He's had moments, I think (forward Justin) Weiss said it best last year, 'that's the last guy I want to go against.'
"He gives (defender Josh Maher) a lot of confidence. That combo has been really good. Josh is quietly doing his job in a very major league way."
Now comes a Tuesday night trip to No. 22 Michigan (6-1-4). The Hoosiers, 3-0-2 in their last five games, trail Maryland (5-0-1), Ohio State (4-1-1) and Michigan State (4-2) in the Big Ten standings with four conference games remaining.
"There is so much ahead for this team," Yeagley says.
Yes, the senior forward's scoring surge has boosted him to career-high totals in goals (eight) and points (17), but he has bigger, team-focused goals.
"It feels good," he says about his recent goal-scoring binge, "but the team comes first. When I can score, I know it gives us a huge chance to win. I'll try to keep doing it."
Mihalic is a catalyst, but not the only one, in a 5-3-5 Hoosier squad finding balance amid victory. Four Hoosiers have scored two goals in four straight games – Mihalic, forward Collins Oduro, defender Quinton Elliot and midfielder Charlie Heuer. That hasn't happened since at least 2010.
Through it all, Mihalic defends the backline, clears balls to blunt opposing teams' attacks and then attacks himself, as his 22 career goals attest. He leads by word and deed, in games and in training, a consistent force to continue the IU tradition of player excellence.
Mihalic has done this in spurts throughout his Hoosier career but has attained the consistency to cause coach Todd Yeagley to say, "He's leading. You see him on the field dictating where guys need to be. That's a new Tommy."
It goes well beyond scoring, Yeagley adds.
"When you're playing with that much confidence," Yeagley says, "you're in good form, whether it's as a defender or an attacker. He's in the best form he's ever been in."
Mihalic is doing it because he can, because it's expected, because it's necessary as the Hoosiers (3-1-2 in the Big Ten) retain conference title hopes and more. In every sport, championship results demand the best players play well.
"He feels he has to perform," Yeagley says. "He feels that responsibility. We're very pleased with his performance, leadership and overall demeanor. He's taken it to another level in terms of preparedness, mental and physical. He's done a good job."
Consider Mihalic sets the tone for a team that has scored 12 goals in its last five games, huge for a team that had just seven in its first eight contests. His goal helped salvaged a 2-2 tie with No. 4 Ohio State. He scored in a 3-2 win over No. 8 Wisconsin, then had two goals in last week's 3-2 comeback against Kentucky.
Mihalic doesn't score in a vacuum. Against Kentucky, his first goal started from a midfielder Jack Wagoner pass and then one from Oduro. His second goal came when senior forward Sam Sarver blew past a Wildcat defender off a pass from defender Jansen Miller and sent a cross into the box, trusting Mihalic would be there. Mihalic, anticipating Sarver's play, was there.
Credit years of playing together to build chemistry crucial to success.
"He's rapid," Mihalic says of Sarver. "No one catches him when he gets into space. Once Jansen) played him that ball, I knew I just had to get to my spot and the ball would fall to me. He's phenomenal."
The same is true of other Hoosiers.
Consider Heuer, a true freshman who hadn't played since Sept. 4. He got his chance in Friday night's second half against Penn State and scored twice within eight minutes – the first two goals of his college career – to secure a victory.
It was the second straight game a freshman had scored a game-winning goal, following midfielder Michael Nesci's effort against Kentucky.
Yeagley has never hesitated playing freshmen when they show they are ready, when consistent training earns them game opportunity, and then they deliver – like Nesci, who's played in 12 games; like Heuer, who's played in three games.
Still, veterans lead the way. Yeagley praises Sarver's dominating play and leadership. He calls forward Alex Barger a winner, saying, "I've coached a lot of good kids, and he's in the top tier when it comes to how he handles any situation." He says Elliot is "playing at an All-American level" and praises Jansen's defensive tenacity.
"We've given game balls to some guys who have scored goals," Yeagley says, "but (Jansen has) played well every game. He's been producing and covering for guys. It's his arial play, his voice, his good decisions offensively.
"I don't think any attacker has played better than him. He's had moments, I think (forward Justin) Weiss said it best last year, 'that's the last guy I want to go against.'
"He gives (defender Josh Maher) a lot of confidence. That combo has been really good. Josh is quietly doing his job in a very major league way."
Now comes a Tuesday night trip to No. 22 Michigan (6-1-4). The Hoosiers, 3-0-2 in their last five games, trail Maryland (5-0-1), Ohio State (4-1-1) and Michigan State (4-2) in the Big Ten standings with four conference games remaining.
"There is so much ahead for this team," Yeagley says.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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